Fairfield is a small town of 4,773 in Illinois, with a median household income of $43,681
and a 3.6% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is
13% below the national average.
Strengths:
Fairfield stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Fairfield is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Fairfield city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 87.0
Fairfield's overall cost of living index is 87.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Fairfield costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.
Metric
Fairfield, IL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$88,900
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$491
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
66.8%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$43,681
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Fairfield's violent crime rate is 511.1 per 100,000 residents
— 34% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
511.1 /100k
Property Crime
2725.7 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Fairfield is served primarily by Fairfield PSD 112.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.0:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Fairfield, IL
National Avg
School District
Fairfield PSD 112
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.0:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
16.6%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
91.3%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Fairfield sees average highs of 41.1°F in January
and 89.6°F in July,
with 46.0 inches of annual precipitation
and 11.9 inches of snow per year.
Fairfield's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Fairfield roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $88,900 and median rent is $491/month.
Fairfield's violent crime rate is 511.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2725.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Fairfield are operated by Fairfield PSD 112.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and several high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.0:1. 16.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Fairfield, IL has a population of 4,773, a median household income of $43,681, and an unemployment rate of 3.6%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Fairfield averages 41.1°F in January and 89.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 46.0 inches
with about 11.9 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Fairfield, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 62837.
The population of Fairfield, Illinois is 4,773 with a median age of 43.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Fairfield: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $88,900, median household income $43,681, crime index 133 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Fairfield side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
